XPepius

Just as some auto owners love to tune their cars, hard-core computer users like to tweak their computer to run as efficiently as possible. XPepius offers a set of enhancements and system utilities for Windows XP, providing easier access to some functions, and adding some security tools. We particularly like a feature putting new navigation and command options inside Windows Explorer's context menu, which pops up with the right click of the mouse. The software allows all drives but C to be hidden, or lets users disable the Task Manager and Regedit features so a shared computer can't be damaged by another user. However, the software itself cannot be password-protected, which in our mind undermines some of these security features. A start-up manager and disc cleaner are among the download's most useful tools, while another feature allows older applications to take advantage of new designs featured in the XP operating system. XPepius trails some of its more full-featured rivals in the PC customization market, but with a free trial available, it may well be worth a try.